Laboratory Research

Basic Research into Lymphoma

The primary focus of our laboratory program is to translate the latest scientific discoveries directly into new treatments for patients with lymphoma. This operation involves everything from early discovery and chemistry of new small molecules through preclinical drug development and biochemical pharmacology. Central to our laboratory focus on developing the most promising drugs as quickly as possible, is the reliance on the development of novel animal models of the disease. These unique models allow us to assess safety and efficacy very early in the development process, and to refine the optimal strategies for application in the clinic. Additionally, we believe that no drug being developed today will be used exclusively as a single agent; hence, we initiate the evaluation of drugs in combination in order to identify only the most promising and synergistic combination to move forward into the clinic. These techniques employ the use of high-throughput combinatorial screening.

Over the past decade, enormous strides have been made in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of many lymphoma subtypes. These data suggest that each of the 70 different kinds of lymphoma can be characterized by its own unique behavior, response to treatment, and unique underlying molecular pathogenesis. The many breakthroughs in lymphoma care over the past decade have begun to create an opportunity to potentially move away for the non-specific cytotoxic chemotherapy that has become the mainstay of cancer treatment. The emergence of new: (1) monoclonal antibodies that target specific proteins on the surface of the tumor cell; (2) antibody drug conjugates (Brentuximab vedotin, Zevalin) which allow delivery of a ‘toxic’ payload only to the tumor cell directly; (3) small molecules that target these diseases at their genetic roots, now offers an exciting opportunity to either complement existing treatment regimens for these diseases, or to develop novel platforms that will move us away from the standard chemotherapy treatments used for these diseases.

Integral to the rapid evolution of new treatment paradigms for these diseases is the ability to characterize and study only the most promising new drugs and their combination in this preclinical setting. The more we know about these drugs, including how they work, their toxicity and efficacy, the more effective we will be in improving the treatment outcomes of patients with all forms of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Our translationally focused laboratory is one of only a few in the country with the ability study these new treatments from discovery through the relevant animal models of lymphoma, and into the clinic. This process is typically an expensive one that can take years, and cost millions of dollars. Clearly, having the right tools to assess these new therapeutic opportunities in a disease specific context, will expedite our ability to manage, and cure, these challenging diseases.